They do make eye contact. I had one now for 3 years and I'll vouch for him being somewhat intelligent. He knows the feeding and cleaning regime and is easier to work with than some of my atrox! but that's only because I have trained (for lack of a better word) him to go into his shift box for cleaning. He is very watchful of any activity in the room. He hoods when someone he doesn't know approaches the cage.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education